Formulating Feed
Rations
By: Mariah Gumfory, Arlene Barrett, Haley Vrazel, & Dennis
Bratton,
Objectives
• Explain formulating feed rations
• Demonstrate formulating a basic feed
ration.
Take into consideration:
• Class of livestock
• Weight of the animal
• Purpose of feeding
• List of nutrient requirements
• Feedstuffs available
• Composition of feedstuffs
• Calculate ration
• Check your calculations!!
Procedure for ration formulation
• As you complete the ration, ask the following
questions:
• Did you correct any deficiencies?
• Is it palatable/physically feasible to feed?
• What was your cost per pound or ton?
• List any additions or supplements you add.
Why do we do it?
• Formulating a feed ration is necessary because
you may be feeding your animal corn with a
crude protein percentage of 9, and the
requirements for your animal is 12. So the corn
you are feeding does not meet the requirements
of your animal.
• BUT! By doing a doing a feed calculation, you
could add a supplement to your corn feed and
increase the crude protein to meet the level
required by your animal.
Formulating Feed Rations
• Using a Pearson’s Square:
• Simple way to formulate a feed ration is by using a
Pearson Square
• Set up as follows: Step 1- Get your square
Formulating Feed Rations cont.
• Step 2: Input your information
Feed #1 goes
here along
with its CP%
CP% you
want goes
here
Feed #2 goes
here with its
CP%
Formulating Feed Rations cont.
• Step 3: Subtract both feed sources’ CP% across the square
with desired CP%
Feed 1
CP%
Feed 2
Formulating Feed Rations cont.
• Step 4: The numbers you get after subtracting will be the parts
you need of the two feeds
Parts Feed
1
Feed 1
CP%
Feed 2
Parts Feed
2
Formulating Feed Rations cont.
• Step 5: Add the two numbers together to get the total parts
for the feed ration
Parts Feed
1
Feed 1
CP%
Feed 2
Parts Feed
2
Total Parts
Formulating Feed Rations cont.
• Step 6: The parts of each feed can be expressed as a percent
simply by dividing the individual parts by the total parts and
multiplying by 100
• Parts of feed 1/total parts (100) = % feed 1
• Parts of feed 2/total parts (100) = % feed 2
Formulating Feed Rations cont.
• Step 7: Calculate the pounds of each feed you need by
multiplying your percent of feed by how many pounds of feed
you need
• % feed 1 x pounds of ration = total pounds needed for ration
• % feed 2 x pounds of ration = total pounds needed for ration
• Final Step - Check your math:
• Pounds of feed 1 x original CP% of feed 1 = lbs of CP
• Pounds of feed 2 x original CP% of feed 2 = lbs of CP
Add together
to get CP%
Practice Problem: Two Feed Sources
• Formulate 1000 lb. of a complete
sheep diet containing 14% CP. Use
corn (9% CP) and a supplement
(44% CP).
What’s being asked?
• You are trying to formulate a ration
for sheep using two supplements
that, by themselves, would not meet
their needs. You need to mix the feed
to get the specified amount of CP and
you need 1000 lbs. of the feed.
Round 2!
• A cow is on a feed that requires a
ration containing 55% CP. The CP of
the two feeds being used, corn and
soybean meal, are 22% and 89%.
Determine the amounts of feed
necessary to form a 300 lb. ration that
meets the requirements of your cow.
Remember!
• Remember your steps:
• Step 1: Set up and label your square: the labels
stay the same going across
• Step 2: Subtract going ACROSS the square
• Step 3: Get your total parts
• Step 4: Find the % of each feed required
• Step 5: Find the total pounds needed of each
feed
• Check your answer!!
Objectives
• Explain formulating feed rations
• Demonstrate formulating a basic feed
ration.